IAF Su-30MKI Crash in Assam: Two Pilots Killed, Nagpur Officer Among Victims
Jorhat/Nagpur, 6th March 2026: Two pilots of the Indian Air Force (IAF) were killed after a Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter aircraft crashed during a training mission in Karbi Anglong district of Assam on Thursday evening. One of the deceased officers, Flight Lieutenant Purvesh Duragkar, hailed from Nagpur in Maharashtra.
According to the IAF, the Su-30MKI aircraft had taken off from Jorhat air base in Assam and was reported overdue after it lost contact with ground control at around 7.42 pm on March 5. Following the loss of communication, search and rescue operations were immediately launched.
In a subsequent update, the IAF said the aircraft, which was on a routine training mission, crashed in the Karbi Anglong area, approximately 60 km from Jorhat. Search operations were initiated to locate the aircraft and crew.
Later, the IAF confirmed that both pilots — Squadron Leader Anuj and Flight Lieutenant Purvesh Duragkar — sustained fatal injuries in the crash. The Air Force expressed deep condolences to their families.
“All personnel of the Indian Air Force express sincere condolences and stand firmly with the bereaved families in this time of grief,” the force said in an official statement.
Flight Lieutenant Purvesh Duragkar was a native of Nagpur and had completed his BSc in Computer Science from Dr Ambedkar College. He studied at South Point School in Omkar Nagar and had scored 88 percent in Class X and 70 percent in Class XII.
Duragkar had an active background in the National Cadet Corps (NCC) and represented Maharashtra in six national NCC camps. He also represented the Maharashtra Directorate in aero-modelling competitions.
His father, Ravindra Duragkar, works as a Transport Inspector with Central Railway, while his mother, Sandhya Duragkar, is a homemaker.
Further details about the cause of the crash are awaited, and an investigation is expected to follow.
